There were mixed emotions for this week for the Oakdale varsity softball team. On one hand the girls had three shutout victories that they won by a combined score of 43-0. On the other, they suffered a 5-4 road loss to Manteca and as a result, were swept by the Buffaloes this season.
The busy week, that featured four games in five days, began with a 21-0 home win over Weston Ranch (2-15, 1-9). Oakdale (17-7, 8-3) pounced on the Cougars early with a 10 run first inning. Senior catcher Maddy Brewer went three-for-four with four RBI for Oakdale to set the pace. Dakota Gray also made the Cougars pay as the junior went three-for-four with three RBI and senior Farrah Gomes had a big day going two-for-three with a pair of doubles resulting in two RBI and scoring three runs.
Two days later the girls hit the road for a revenge game against Manteca (18-5, 9-2). Oakdale leaped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a Grace Green two run home run. However, the lead was short lived as Manteca answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Oakdale regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning when they scored two runs to go up 4-3. Manteca answered back with a pair in the bottom of the sixth and completed the season sweep of Oakdale. The Lady Mustangs had opportunity but committed three costly errors in the road loss.
“Our defense gave them a couple of extra bases, they got the timely hits and we didn’t,” Oakdale coach Larry Loger said following the game.
With little time to regroup from the loss, Oakdale took traveled to Modesto’s Rainbow Fields to take on Central Catholic (12-8, 4-7). The hard fought 1-0 road win for Oakdale came off the bat of Lexi Webb in the third inning. Webb went three-for-three with three triples. On the mound Grace Green pitched a complete game shutout giving up just three hits on the day. The play of the day came from right fielder Rilyn Cassaretto when she threw out the potential tying run at the plate to end the game.
The Lady Mustangs finished the week with a Friday afternoon 21-0 blowout over visiting Lathrop (3-16, 0-12). Oakdale had 11 hits on the day including a grand slam off the bat of Green, who finished the day with seven RBI. Also going deep for Oakdale was Webb who hit a home run. Pitcher Mariyn Waterman had a strong performance in the circle only giving up one hit and striking out six.
“I just wanted to throw it in the strike zone and help out the team today,” Waterman said following the impressive win.
Oakdale is currently in third place in the Valley Oak League standings and have three games remaining in the regular season. On Wednesday, May 3 the girls travel to Sierra (8-8, 7-3) for their final road game of the year. Oakdale will host Central Catholic on Friday, May 5 for Senior Night 2017. Three seniors, Shay Trent, Farrah Gomes and Maddy Brewer will all be honored before the game. Oakdale wraps up the season at home against first place East Union (20-3, 10-0) on Tuesday, May 9. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The junior varsity squad earned four wins in four games, starting with a defeat of Weston Ranch via forfeit on April 24. Oakdale then earned a 13-1 road win over Manteca on April 26. The hits carried over for Oakdale in a 14-3 road win over Central Catholic on Thursday, April 27 at Rainbow Fields and capped off the week with a 20-1 home win over Lathrop. Oakdale is now 10-1 in league play.
